Page 1321 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 3 April 2019
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I rise today to thank Martin Fisk, CEO of Menslink, and all who work alongside him for their tireless dedication to helping Canberra’s young men. Their ultimate goal is to help these youth identify their own options for the future and to discover that doors are open to them when they have lost all other hope. Each time Menslink succeed, they help turn around some of the grim statistics that I quoted earlier.
I also wish to thank the men behind Kick2Kick4aCause—Matt, Adam, Dave, Anthony and Paul—who once again this year partnered with Menslink to help them try to raise $100,000 to support the important work they do. Kick-to-kick is an AFL-inspired activity that, as its names suggests, involves kicking a football back and forth between two players. The goal of the fundraiser, besides seeking sponsors and raising funds, was to keep a single game of kick-to-kick going for a solid 24 hours from 4 pm on Saturday, 16 March to 4 pm the following day.
It was my privilege to support this effort. I not only attended the launch on Saturday but was back again at 6 am on Sunday morning to kick the ball. That seemed like an awfully early start to me, so I was deeply impressed, touched and grateful for all the participants who had spent the night on Deakin oval in the rain to keep the game going and for all those who turned out to lend their support and encouragement over the course of the 24-hour period. Some might think this sounds like an ordeal, but I think everyone was having too much fun to see it any other way.
I am happy to report that the fundraising goal of $100,000 was reached. I express my thanks to all who donated, as well as to the event’s many local sponsors. I also extend special thanks to the wives of the Kick2Kick4aCause organisers for all they did to support and run the event. Menslink are an important part of our community, and I encourage all Canberrans to learn more about what they do and support them in their efforts.
Environment—climate change
MS ORR (Yerrabi) (4.37): I rise this afternoon to reflect on some of the comments made in this this place during yesterday’s discussion on the matter of public importance. I was unable to participate in the discussion as I was in the Speaker’s chair; however, I did hear several remarks from the Canberra Liberals environment spokesperson that I found quite concerning.
Climate change is the single biggest issue that governments right across the world are having to act on. We are seeing the harmful effects of climate change on the natural environment and the flow-on effects that are impacting our everyday lives. Unfortunately, this year we have seen several extreme weather events that have caused disastrous damage to communities across Australia. While the ACT has been lucky in the last 12 months in not experiencing the serious flooding and bushfires we saw in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, we cannot be complacent.
Taking real action on climate change and preparing the ACT for more extreme weather events is something that Canberrans expect their government to do, and that
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